I Peter 1:14-17

The text before us is a portion of Peter’s instruction to the believers who were scattered throughout the area which is now the present day nation of Turkey (see v. 1). The date of writing is thought to be between A.D. 60 and 62. The apostle calls upon his audience to prepare for a mental warfare which will require them to protect “the loins of your mind.” In the first verse of the chapter, Peter addressed these same believers as strangers because all believers are temporary residents in a hostile world — a world that does not know the God who would have all men come to repentance and dwell with Him for all eternity.

The apostle now addresses these believers as obedient children (v. 14). Obedient children of the King are obedient to the commands of the King. The manner of conduct of obedient children is far different from the manner of disobedient children. Fear of punishment is cause for wayward children to change their ways. Knowing Jesus as Lord and Savior is cause to for believers to change from past ways because we are to love one another as He loves us. Before our physical vessels became home to the Holy Spirit, we were ignorant and driven by selfish desires. We did not know God’s love. Believers are no longer ignorant. We know the truth and the truth has made us free. Very few, however, have put aside all former ignorance. Evidence of that failure is seen in a testimony driven by former lusts. We are the home of the Holy Spirit but fail to hear the Comforter because of lingering lusts. We lust and fail to be Spirit-directed.

There is no reason to remain ignorant (unlearned). God’s word is before us and states that we must deny the flesh and feel the Spirit. When we feed the Spirit, we hear the Comforter speak. Our ignorance dissipates and we become truly obedient children — children who conduct themselves as “he which hath called you” (v. 15). All are called by the Spirit to be witnesses of Christ.

Peter was personally called by the Lord who said “Follow and I will make you fishers of men.” The Lord who called Peter is holy. In the holiness of the Son, we look upon the Holiness of the Father. Jesus Christ was without sin but being holy is more than being without sin. The holiness of God cannot be captured with achievement. The holiness of God radiates outward.

Obedient children are to radiate God’s holiness. We cannot be sinless. Believers fail each and every day. “If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and the truth is not in us.” (I Jn. 1:10). The only means by which we, obedient children, can be holy is to radiate the holiness which has been given to us. Again, we are to love one another as He loves us. We are to be holy because God is holy. We are to radiate holiness as He radiates holiness.

Physical radiation is not seen; it is felt. The holiness which we are to radiate is, likewise, not seen. Its warmth is to be experienced by all, including those who do not know its real source (we radiate that which we have received from the holy God who “so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life”). The source of the warmth which others sense emanating from us is of God and it is made visible by the manner of our conversation (v. 15). Our love is His love. Our conversations (words and actions) with the world and with each other are to be as those of Him who came, not to condemn, but to save (Jn. 3:17). Our conversation is to reflect that which we have received. Believers are the light of the world (Matt. 5:14). We are to let our light shine. We are to be obedient children.

In verse 17, Peter exhorts believers to reverence the Father with godly fear. We are made adopted sons through faith, believing on the name of Jesus (Rom. 10:13). We have been given power to become sons of God (Jn. 1:12). He is our Father and we are His children.

A son is a reflection of his father. The light that we have been given is the only light that the ignorant may see during our stay on Planet Earth. We are sojourners. We shall see our Redeemer, face to face, and shall dwell with Him forever. Before that time, however, we shall be judged. The Judge is blind to our sins because He has covered them with His blood. The Judge is not blind to our works. We have been assigned to shine His light. Our works shall be judged. We have cause for fear on payday because our works shall be tried by fire. They shall be consumed and only those which are of Christ Jesus shall remain.

Let us ever seek to remain on task, letting His light shine.